The Wartime Memories Project

- HMS Halstead during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

HMS Halstead



   HMS Halstead was a Captain Class frigate, one of 78 built in the USA for the Royal Navy. She measured 1300/1840 tons and was armed with 3 x 3in, 2 x 40mm and 8 x 20mm guns.She was also fitted with a 'Hedgehog' Anti-Submarine weapon for firing 24 depth bombs ahead of the ship. She was completed and commissioned at Boston in November 1943.



 

3rd November 1943 Commissioning Ceremony

10th November 1943 Preparations

25th Feb 1944 Crossing the Altlantic

26th Feb 1944 In Dock

1st Apr 1944 Convoys

24th Apr 1944 In Action

May 1944 Equipment

6th of June 1944 D-Day

10th Jun 1944 Convoy

11th of June 1944 E-Boat Attack

11th of June 1944 On the Move

30th of July 1944 Postscript


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Those known to have sailed in

HMS Halstead

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Bentley Jesse. Leading Seaman (d.11th June 1944)
  • Berkeley Rowland William. Writer. (d.11th June 1944)
  • Buckley Eric.
  • Cobby Lesley Ernest. (d.11th Jun 1944)
  • Cooper Alfred Henry. (d.11th Jun 1944)
  • Cornelius Bernard William. Sub Lt.
  • Greenhouse Percy. Able Sea. (d.20th June 1944)
  • Handford Hugh James. Lt. (d.11th Jun 1944)
  • Heslop Harry. Able Seaman.
  • Scammells Frederick Henry George. (d.11th Jun 1944)
  • Stanley William George. (d.11th Jun 1944)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of HMS Halstead from other sources.



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Want to know more about HMS Halstead?


There are:92 items tagged HMS Halstead available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Frederick Henry George "Micky" Scammells HMS Halstead (d.11th Jun 1944)

I am trying to trace, what happened to my uncle in World War Two. His name was Micky Scammels and his name is on the memorial post in Selsy, West Sussex. Just south of Chichester, West Sussex. He enlisted into the Royal Navy, we think in 1938,and I believe he was on a submarine when it went down, my grandmother was informed that he was missing in action. I know that is where he lived at the time he went missing, and did not come home. Please can you tell me where I can find out more about him. He had two children at the time, his widows name was Betty. Thank you so much.

Update:

I have checked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, which lists only one man of the name

Frederick Henry George Scammells Able Seaman official number P/SSX 30905

killed in action 11.6.1944 HMS Halstead

24 years old Husband of Betty, of Selsey, Sussex

Name engraved on Portsmouth Naval War Memorial

I would think that this would be your uncle. The official number with the prefix P/SSX shows that he would have been based at Portsmouth and had joined on a 'short service' engagement (seven years with a further five in the reserve).

I trust this will help

David

Update:

My father, F.H.G.Scammells (Micky) died on 11th June 1944 aboard HMS Halstead along with Lesley Cobby, Alfred Cooper, Harry Heslop and others. Any information on his friends, pictures etc will be welcome. I was only 2 years old at the time.

Danny Scammells

Shirley Betteridge



Able Seaman. Harry Heslop HMS Halstead

One of my relatives Able Seaman Harry Heslop from Thornaby on Tees was killed on the 11th June 1944, while serving on HMS Halstead.

Raymond Todd



Leading Seaman Jesse Bentley HMS Halstead (d.11th June 1944)

Leading Seaman Jesse Bentley was killed on the 11th June 1944 on board HMS Halstead. He was aged 32 and lived with his wife and child at Rowlands Castle, Hampshire.

George Yalden



Lt. Hugh James Handford HMS Halsted (d.11th Jun 1944)

HMS Halsted 12th of June 1944

HMS Halsted in Portsmouth

Lt Hugh Handford was my father. He was appointed to HMS Halsted as Second Lt. on 11th of March 1944. Halsted was torpedoed by E Boats on the 11th of June 1944. He and many others of the crew were blown overboard and killed. He was washed ashore in Normandy and is buried at Bayeux War Cemetery.

M J Handford



Able Sea. Percy Greenhouse HMS Halsted (d.20th June 1944)

Percy Greenhouse was my second cousin, the son of Elsie Lilian Greenhouse of Croydon, Surrey and sister of Peggy Greenhouse. Percy died at RN Hospital, Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire and is buried at Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Gosport, Gosport Borough, Hampshire.

Jean Crankshaw



Writer. Rowland William "Ron" Berkeley H.M.S. Halstead (d.11th June 1944)

My uncle Ron Berkeley was a serving ship's writer on HMS Halstead in the 2nd World War. I have little information about him and his job on the ship and would love to hear any story or information about him. I know he was killed on the ship on the fateful night of 11th June 1944 and would be so grateful to know more about the role of the ship that night.

How brave those people were, and so selfless. I have no photos of my uncle Ron now, though I remember as a boy his picture hanging in a place of honour in our home.

Mick Duerden



William George Stanley HMS Halstead (d.11th Jun 1944)

My Uncle, William George Stanley was one of the crew members of HMS Halstead, unfortunately he too died on that night of 11th June 1944.

Christopher Stanley







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